Mawlana Abdol-Hamid warned of consequences of dividing Sistan-Baluchistan province in his Friday speech of Feb. 16, 2018 calling on pro-division elements to make efforts for removing discriminations and creating jobs.

The official website of Khateeb of Sunnis in Zahedan alluded to the letter of two members of the Majlis/parliament in favor of dividing the province of Sistan-Baluchistan and said: “Unfortunately some MPs insist on dividing Sistan-Baluchistan province, while the interior minister has termed it against the interests of the province and there is no tendency in the government for dividing.”

“The province of Sistan-Baluchistan is a notable and important province in Iran where respectable ‘Baluch’ and ‘Sistani’ people live together peacefully. If we divide it into three provinces, it will lose its previous fame and status,” he added more.

The most influential Iranian Sunni leader pointed out to the experience of previous divisions in some provinces of Iran and said: “The provinces which have been divided have not witnessed any positive impacts; rather they have lost their demographic texture and still they are on the same conditions which they had in past. We think the viewpoint of the opponents of division is correct.”

“Presenting the issue of dividing the province ends to a very big contention in the method of division and outlining the borders. It has dangerous consequences, that’s why this plan is not a wisely project,” president of Darululoom Zahedan said.

He called on politicians who pursue the possible plan of dividing Sistan-Baluchistan to work hard for creating jobs and obtaining more budgets for the province.

Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said: “Discrimination, unemployment, closure of the borders and leaving the potentials of the province unused are the most notable problems of the province.”

“Discrimination in the province, especially in Sistan part, is on the highest range. More than 40% of the population belongs to Sunnis in Sistan region, but there is no a single district governor from the Sunni community. Only one vice-governor, one demarche and one chairman of an office belong to the Sunni community,” he further said.

Recently two member of the parliament have asked the authorities to divide Sistan-Baluchistan into three provinces on the pretext of development. One of them was the former governor of the province. The six other members of the parliament, five Baloch and one Sistani MPs, opposed the plan publically by sending a letter to the president of Iran.

Shaikh Abdol-Hamid objected and said: “Instead of insisting on division, make your efforts to remove discrimination between Shia and Sunni communities. For the development of Sistan-Baluchistan all sects should be together in different offices.”

He expressed his thanks to the six MPs who have written a letter to the president of Iran against dividing Sistan-Baluchistan.